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Museums, galleries and historic houses are treasure troves of items from the past. But how easy is it at these sites to unknowingly just walk straight past an object with an incredible story to tell? In this podcast series host Ploy Radford talks to the experts at different museums, galleries and historic houses about the most underrated objects in their collection, and unveils some fantastic facts.

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Check latest episodes from Past Matters podcast

Spring Special 2026: Snuffboxes and Micromosaics at the V&A

2026/05/20

In this second Spring Special episode, we focus on two objects on the smaller end of the scale at the V&A. On display in the newly revamped Gilbert Collection galleries, the objects are the earliest example of a snuffbox used for international diplomacy and a beautifully detailed micromosaic perfume flask.

Spring Special 2026: Echoes of Ash - Life in Herculaneum

2026/05/10

In the first of these Spring Specials 2026, historian Adrian Murdoch talks about what makes Herculaneum such a unique historic site, and focuses in on the stories of two citizens whose lives are preserved in the ashes there: Marcus Nonius Balbus and Petronia Iusta.

Fulvia - interview with Dr Jane Draycott

2025/08/29

Hear historian Dr Jane Draycott reveal the fascinating life of Fulvia - the woman who defied all the rules in Ancient Rome.

Three military tombstones - Roman Britain

2025/08/14

In this episode Dr Jo Ball shares the stories behind three military tombstones from Roman Britain, touching on themes of life and death in the Roman empire, what it means to be a Roman and more.

A carved limewood cravat - Chatsworth House

2025/08/01

In the second of a two part episode focused on Chatsworth House, Assistant Curator Katherine Hardwick-Kulpa shares the mysteries around a carved limewood cravat .

Chatsworth House - William Kent Pier Table

2025/07/23

In the first of a two-part episode focused on the English stately home Chatsworth House, Assistant Curator Katherine Hardwick-Kulpa explains to host Ploy Radford-Taylor why a small table tucked away in the West Sketch Gallery is actually one of the most significant pieces of furniture in the house's collection.

The women of Homer - interview with Emily Hauser

2025/06/26

In this episode of Past Matters, academic and author Emily Hauser shines a light on the women who inspired the female characters of Homer's great epics.

HMS Queen Charlotte Figurehead - The National Museum of the Royal Navy

2025/06/17

Season 5 opens with an interview with Hannah Bradbury-Crowther, Curator of Diverse Histories at the National Museum of the Royal Navy sharing the tales the figurehead of the HMS Queen Charlotte has seen...

New Year Special - interview with author Amber Chen

2024/12/31

In this New Year special to round off season 4, author Amber Chen reveals the historical influences behind her silkpunk fantasy novel ‘Of Jade and Dragons’.

The Sword of Ommerschans - Dutch National Museum of Antiquities

2024/12/19

Luc Amkreutz, curator of the prehistory collections at the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, reveals the story behind the Sword of Ommerschans, currently on display as part of the 'Bronze Age: Fires of Change' exhibition. The giant ceremonial Bronze Age sword provides a fascinating insight into an overlooked part of history that actually heralded great cultural change in society.

The Book of the Queen - The British Library

2024/12/11

This episode shines a light on Christine de Pizan, one of the overlooked women from history featured in the British Library's exhibition 'Medieval Women: In their own Words'. Curator Eleanor Jackson tells host Ploy Radford-Taylor about this extraordinary woman who was Europe's first professional female author and goes into detail about one of her works - the Book of the Queen.

Lord Leighton's landscape paintings - Leighton House

2024/12/05

Leighton House's new exhibition 'Leighton and Landscape: Impressions from Nature shines a new light on its famous former occupant. In this episode, senior curator Daniel Robbins shares the story behind Frederic, Lord Leighton's landscapes and what went into putting together this first of a kind exhibition.

Assortment of Japanese souvenirs - the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum

2024/11/28

Host Ploy Radford-Taylor returns to the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum where a chat with curator Duncan Walker about some innocuous Japanese souvenirs leads to a much wider discussion about changing Japanese society, the rise of tourism and the lives of Sir Merton and Lady Russell-Cotes.

Blandford Fashion Museum - a Regency spencer

2024/11/14

While you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, you can’t deny that clothes can reveal a lot about a person, or the past, as host Ploy Radford-Taylor finds when she visits Blandford Fashion Museum.

The 'Queen of the Bluestockings' - Elizabeth Montagu

2024/11/06

In this episode, historian Dr Lizzie Rogers tells the story of Elizabeth Montagu, famed salon hostess and founder of the Blue Stockings Society, literary critic and successful businesswoman.

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4.8 out of 5

5 reviews

★★★★★

Johannes Virus 2019/05/22

Off to a Great Start!

I just listened to the podcast about the parade sallet at the Wallace Collection. It was interesting, insightful, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can’t...

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